Residents of Carbonear should take extra precaution when they decide where to park this winter season.

As of Nov. 1, the Town of Carbonear has put in place a winter parking ban – a regulation set to ensure the town’s roads are clear of vehicles during early morning hours, as well as 12-hours after a snowstorm.

Carbonear’s municipal enforcement officer, Gord Parsons, told The Compass those found parking along the sides of the roads between the hours of 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. could face a $50 fine.

The reasoning behind the ban boils down to road safety, and ensuring snowplows have plenty of space to do their job.

Parsons said the ban was not put in place with the intention of tracking down roadside parking during the early hours of the day. Instead, the fines are more than likely going to be enforced only when the vehicle in question poses a problem.

“We normally don’t enforce the ban unless there’s an issue – like, say, if we’re getting a lot of snow, then yes, we’re going to enforce it, but we’re not out here driving around past midnight looking around for cars parked on the street when there isn’t any snow,” he noted.

The regulation is in place in the community from Nov. 1, 2018, to April 30, 2019.

Parking is not the only thing that can land one a fine, however. Parsons also explained that the regulations apply to those who would shovel or plow snow from their own driveways and leave it on the streets, ultimately creating a dangerous roadway for drivers. That side of the regulation also comes with a possible $50 fine.

“Water street used to be a mess a few years back – we were towing vehicles and things like that,” said Parsons. “But I think this ban has word going around, and it’s definitely not as bad as it used to be.”